Modular clamping system

Abstract

A clamping system includes a housing, a clamping lever pivotally coupled relative to the housing, a clamping arm pivotally coupled relative to the housing and the clamping lever, and an expandable link coupled to the clamping arm. The clamping lever and the clamping arm are rotatable from an open position to a closed (clamped) position. A method of mounting a device on a substrate using the clamping system is also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for mounting a device on a substrate having a hole, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing configured to couple to the device; 
 a clamping assembly moveably coupled to the housing such that translational and rotational movement of the clamping assembly relative to the housing is guided by the housing, the clamping assembly further comprising a clamping arm coupled to an expandable link, the clamping arm including a clamping surface; 
 a link arm having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotally coupled to the expandable link and the second end is pivotally coupled to the housing at a first axis; and 
 a clamping lever having a first end and a second end, wherein the second end is pivotally coupled to the housing at a second axis parallel to the first axis and wherein the second end of the link arm and the second end of the clamping lever are rotationally coupled, wherein the clamping lever is rotatable about the second axis between an open position and a closed position, whereby the clamping arm is moved between an unclamped position and a clamped position as a result of the clamping lever being rotated from the open position to the closed position, wherein in the unclamped position the clamping arm is located entirely within a perimeter of the hole when the apparatus is inserted in the hole, and wherein rotating the clamping lever to the closed position causes the clamping arm to be moved to the clamped position such that the clamping arm is located at least partially outside of the perimeter of the hole and a portion of the substrate is clamped between a flange of the housing and the clamping arm. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing includes a track configured for guiding movement of the clamping arm between the unclamped position and the clamped position. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the track is configured such that movement of the clamping arm from the unclamped position to the clamped position includes rotational and translational movement. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rotational coupling of the clamping lever to the link arm is configured such that rotation of the clamping lever about the second axis results in rotation of the link arm about the first axis in the opposite direction of the rotation of the clamping lever. 
 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing includes a spring-lock mechanism for locking the first end of the clamping lever in the closed position. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the spring-lock mechanism includes a button configured such that sliding the button unlocks the first end of the clamping lever. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second end of the link arm and the second end of the clamping lever each include gear teeth, wherein the rotational coupling of the link arm and the clamping lever comprises engagement of the link arm gear teeth with the clamping lever gear teeth. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the housing includes a generally ring-shaped portion. 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the link arm includes a link arm hole at the link arm second end, and the pivotal coupling of the link arm to the housing comprises a first axis pin coupled to the housing and passing through the link arm hole. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the clamping lever includes a clamping lever hole at the clamping lever second end, and the pivotal coupling of the clamping lever to the housing comprises a second axis pin coupled to the housing and passing through the clamping lever hole.